Historic Preservation Overlay District

Any building over 50 years old may qualify as "historic". Buildings that have particular merit may be designated as "historic landmarks" on the City of Cottage Grove's local inventory and/or on the National Register of Historic Places.

A building, site, or neighborhood may be eligible for local, state, or national designation as a historic landmark based on any of the following criteria:

• Its association with historic or famous events;
• Its association with the lives of persons, or groups of people, significant in local, state, or national history;
• Its architectural design or method of construction;
• Its identification as a resource that represents an aesthetic or educational feature of the community;
• The likelihood that the property will yield important information about pre-history or the historic past of the community.

If your property has a Historic Preservation Overlay on the Cottage Grove Land Use Designation Map ("zoning map"), your property is a "historic landmark" based on either local or National recognition. 

The National Register is the official federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. National Register properties are recognized for having significance to the history of their community, state, or the nation.

If your property is designated on the National Register of Historic Places, it is automatically designated as a local historic landmark in Cottage Grove.

All affected property owners are invited to attend a public hearing before the Historic Landmarks Commission on any application for local Landmarks Designation. Individual property owners may object and opt-out at that time. If no objections are filed with the Community Development Department, the historic designation becomes final if the Historic Landmarks Commission votes to accept the application as presented.

Designation is permanent. Once designated, the building remains designated as "historic" at a national and/or local level, unless demolished or moved.

Across the country, historic designation has been proven to be one of the best tools we have to improve property values and ensure neighborhood sustainability.

Contributing historic landmarks qualify for a 10-year tax freeze from the State of Oregon, and may qualify for "brick and mortar" grants from the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office for qualified restoration projects.

Owners of contributing historic landmarks mak apply for Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives when remodeling their income-generating properties. The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives, program encourages private sector rehabilitation of historic buildings and is one of the nation's more successful and cost-effective community revitalization programs. It provides a 20% tax credit for qualifying rehabilitation projects.

The City of Cottage Grove offers annual Historic Renovation Grants to contributing properties in the downtown historic district. Other grants at the local, state, or federal level may be available. Check with the Community Development Department or State Historic Preservation Office for a current listing.

Financial incentives are available through the State and Federal Government for buildings individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places or landmarks within a National Register Historic District.

The State Historic Preservation Office offers a "Special Assessment" -- a freeze on the assessed value of a building for 10 years. Applicants must prepare and commit to restoration and improvement plans of their building. All plans and alterations to both the exterior and interior must be approved by the State before work is commenced. For more information call the State Historic Preservation Office at (503) 986-0690, or visit the State Historic Preservation Office website.

The US Department of the Interior offers a 20% Federal tax credit for rehabilitation performed on income-producing buildings (apartments, bed & breakfast, commercial, et cetera). Again, all work on both the exterior and interior must be approved before work is commenced. In this case, botht he State and Federal Government review the planned restoration and renovation.

Also, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has a tax credit fund established jointly with Bank of America. Contact the National Trust for Historic Preservation for more information.

Other financial incentives may be available at a local, state, or federal level. For more information contact the Community Development Department or the State Historic Preservation Office.

Preservation Directory provides a great single website for cultural and heritage grant opportunities.